Vietnam MOH Clarifies Food Product Declaration and Import Inspection Rules Under Decree 46/2026

Details of the Update

The Ministry of Health requests authorities and food businesses to begin preparing documentation and implementing regulatory procedures in line with Decree 46/2026/ND-CP and Resolution 66.13/2026/NQ-CP, which introduce updated obligations for food safety management and product declarations. 

Under the framework, conformity declaration of registration must be prepared for food products subject to national technical regulations covering quality or safety indicators. 

Businesses are also required to prepare declarations of applicable standards for processed packaged foods, food additives, processing aids, and food-contact materials when there are no applicable national technical regulations governing those products. 

The guidance confirms that product registration remains mandatory for specific food categories. These include health supplements, medical nutrition foods, foods for special dietary uses, certain food supplements, and nutrition products for children under 36 months. 

Food facilities must also obtain food safety eligibility certificates, with additional reporting requirements introduced for domestic manufacturers of health supplements. 

For imported food products, importers must register state food safety inspection dossiers before shipments arrive at ports and notify the relevant authorities of product storage locations to facilitate inspection planning. 

Businesses must further comply with food labeling requirements and obtain pre-approval of advertising content for regulated food categories. 

Effective Date

The regulatory requirements under Decree No. 46/2026/ND-CP and Resolution No. 66.13/2026/NQ-CP were originally issued on January 26 and January 27, 2026, respectively. Their implementation has been deferred to April 16, 2026, following the adoption of Resolution No. 09/2026/NQ-CP.

Why It Matters

The updated framework introduces expanded compliance obligations for food product declarations, product registration, labeling, and import inspection procedures. These changes support clearer regulatory oversight and structured documentation processes while aligning food safety management practices with updated regulatory requirements.

For businesses operating in Vietnam’s food sector, compliance with the new procedures is essential to avoid shipment delays, inspection complications, or market access restrictions. 

Who This Is Relevant For

This update is particularly relevant for food manufacturers, importers, distributors, and regulatory affairs teams, including organizations handling health supplements, medical nutrition products, special dietary foods, and nutrition products for children under 36 months. It is also important for quality assurance, compliance, and supply chain teams responsible for regulatory documentation, labeling, and import procedures.

Next Steps

Companies should assess their current product portfolios to identify products that require updated declarations or product registrations under the new framework. Businesses should also review internal processes related to regulatory dossier preparation, import inspection registration, labeling compliance, and advertising content approval to align with the requirements before the April 16, 2026 implementation date. 

Organizations operating across multiple markets often face similar regulatory updates across different jurisdictions. In this context, platforms such as RegASK can help regulatory and compliance teams monitor evolving requirements and streamline regulatory workflows. 

RegASK is a leading agentic AI regulatory intelligence and workflow orchestration platform that empowers global organizations in highly regulated sectors, including consumer products and life sciences, to proactively navigate complex regulatory landscapes. By combining advanced Agentic AI with experts in the loop, RegASK delivers timely predictive actionable insights and end-to-end automation, streamlining compliance processes, mitigating risks, and accelerating market access across more than 160 countries. Learn more or book a demo now. 

FAQs

What does Panama’s new food regulation require? 

The regulation requires mandatory digital sanitary registration for all industrially produced or imported foods and dietary supplements, along with expanded documentation requirements, updated labeling standards, and strengthened post-market surveillance.

How long is sanitary registration valid under the new regulation? 

Sanitary registration for affected products is valid for five years, andrenewal applications must be submitted at least two months before the expiration date.

What labeling requirements are included in the regulation?

Product labeling must comply with national labeling rules, including mandatory allergen disclosure, and references standards from the Codex Alimentarius as international guidance.

How can RegASK help companies comply with new food safety regulations like this?

RegASK helps organizations monitor regulatory updates, interpret compliance requirements, and automate regulatory workflows. This enables companies to track changes in registration rules, labeling standards, and import procedures, ensuring timely compliance across multiple global markets.